Mixed martial arts rally not happening

A great disappointment to reporters on this slow news day, the planned rally that would have brought “10,000 Karate Kids” to Albany to lobby for the legalization of mixed-martial arts bouts in New York will not be happening. (The day before Thanksgiving seemed like a dubious date to transport 10,000 children to Albany — that’s a lot of disappointed grandparents.)

Martial arts star Lou Neglia, who according to a press release of dubious origin was slated to run the rally, responded to our phone message with one of his own, saying that he was instead planning to “do something at Madison Square Garden.” Neglia hasn’t responded to subsequent calls.

Feel free to speculate on whether or not last night’s appearance by the WWF pro wrestling tour — a major competitor for the young male mayhem dollar — at the Times Union Center might have played some part in Neglia’s decision to stay downstate.

Just imagine: 10,000 young martial arts students bumping into the bleary-eyed post-show WWF crew at, say, Bruegger’s. It’s like something out of a Marvel comic.

See tomorrow’s Times Union for more on the political battle for and against mixed martial arts in New York.